Balloon system



April 12, 1960 P. E. YosT 2,932,469

BALLOON SYSTEM Filed Dec. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Paul E Yosf Mfi v 1-? f7 7 TORNEY April 12, 1960 Filed Dec. 17, 1956 P. E. YOST BALLOON SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Paul Yosf BALLOON SYSTEM Paul E. Yost, Sioux Falls, S. Dak., assignor to Raven Industries, Inc., Sioux Falls, S. Dak.,' a corporation of South Dakota 1 Application December 17, 1956,.Se -i p 4, I Claims. I or. 2 2,

My invention relates to a balloon system 1 An. object of my invention is to provide an improved balloon system pertaining particularly to that type of balloon using thin plastic film-material, andthatrtype of balloon which is adapted to. carry p'ropaganda,;or scientific instruments, etc., to desired positions or; elevations. I i A further object of my invention is to provide a balloon of thistype with attendant means for valving thegas in the balloon through a certain flap or channel. arrangement. v V V A further object of rny invention is to provi-dea means. attached to the balloon .for supporting the load to be, released, and whereby release of the load at the predetermined interval will ,cause the lower endQof the balloon toopen. I

"A furtherbbject ofim g' invention is to providemeans for evacuating the lifting,;gas 'after the load has; been released, and to further pr'ovide a special type of. device for releasingthefloadr A still further object of myinvention is to provide a'means for supporting the load by means of an arrangement which cooperates to also release the gas without the necessity of using shrouds or other attaching means.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are, attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out'in rnyclaims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in; which: i v

Figure 1 is a forward elevation of the balloon in its lifting or fully inflated condition,

Figure 2 is a detail .of the releasing mechanism,

Figure 3 is an enlargedseetional view taken along the lines 33 ofFig'ure 2, 4

Figure 4 is an enlarged V QQt P I e t ke on thelines 4--4'of Figure 2, h a

' Figure 5 is a modification,

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of a portion of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view showing the disposition of certain of the parts when the balloon loop is released, and just before the load is released, and a Figure 8 is a further view showing the disposition of the same parts as the load is released, and showing the inverted balloon at a distance.

My invention relates generally to balloons principally using hydrogen gas, it beingunderstood, however, that many of the principles involved can apply to any type of balloon. In many cases, in certain countries where propaganda leaflets are to be dropped, helium is not cord thence being slipped over the end of theihook 29,

available and hydrogen must be used, and after the propaganda has been released, such balloons through gradual dissipation of the hydrogen will settle to the earth, and, however, will still contain a certain amount of the hydrogen therein which is relatively dangerous if brought near a flame and the like, one of the objectives of my invention being to insure that all of the hydrogen is 2,932,469 Patented Apr. 12, 1960 2 completely evacuated. My invention further contemplates the provision of the various other objects mentioned hereinabove, and especially the simultaneous opening of the balloon and releasing of the load.

I' have used the character 10 to, designate theballoon, generally, the balloon being made vvof very thinplastic,

material, the balloon being sealed along the top edge 11, and attached to the top edge 11 I place a small weight 12.

,Secured to both sides of the balloon is a small ring portions 18 and 19 at 20 is a looped cord 21 which is tied at 22 tothe counter-weight 23. The counter-weight 23 can be made of any suitable material such as Dry Ice, or any other material which will gradually evaporate or become dissipated and correspondingly will lose weight.

The arm 18 includes a small notch at.24 overwhichi passes a further looped cord 25 which is secured. at 26 beneath the hook portion 27 of the member'28, which extends intothe further hook portion 29, and attached about the portion 28 at 30 is a double looped cord 31 which passes about the load 32, the end of the looped at 33. The load 32 in the present instance is shown-as a package of leaflets which are'to be droppedxover a' certain area, however, it-shouldbe specifically understood substantially as shown in Figure-l, thepnoose portion of,

the cord 15 of course being longer thanthat' shown, and the hydrogen gas can be introduced between the pair of fiaps3'4 which are at the. lower right-hand corner of the balloon, these flaps at the portion 35 not being sealed. The load and releasing mechanism is allowed to drop to the position shown and in the manner shown, whereby the noose 15 will draw up the folds of the material to the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2, thereby fairly tightlyclosing the balloon at this point, however, the hydrogen willnot escape due to the fact that the greater outsidepressure will preventthe same. 7 As the balloon rises, the flaps 34 will provide a-valve which will allow the excess hydrogen pressure to escape along'theline 35, but will not allow the entrance of air since the flaps will close due to the outside pressure, and as a result an efiicient valve is provided by means of the flaps 34. This valving will continue until the system comes into equilibrium and the balloon system will remain floating until the equilibrium is destroyed, which will occur by the loss of weight on the counterweight 23 which provides a timing function which may be set to keep the system afloat until it has had time to move with the wind over a pre-selected area.

When the counter-weight 23 becomes light enough through dissipation, etc. the arm 18 will rise in the direction of the arrow 36, the looped cord 25 will gradually pull downwardly at the notch 24 until the cord 25 will be released, and release of the cord at the 'point 26 will cause the member 28 to pivot in the direction of the arrow 37, releasing the looped cord 31 and thence releasing the leaflets or load 32. At the same time the cord 15 will be released and the noose 15 will enlarge, thereby increasing the tendency of the hydrogen to escape, and due to the fact that the load has been released, the tend- J ency will be for the weight 12' to cause the balloon to turn completely over, whereby the hydrogen will-thenflow freely through the top and will drop to the earthand be harmless.

Figures 7 and 8 show the-action of the variou's parts; as stated above, the balloon 10 being necessarily'shown smaller in- Figure 8 since it will appear as at adistance,

and part of the leaflets 32 are shown at rightangles, to the other leaflets duetothe effect ofthe wind carrying the leaflets away as they are released. 7

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a'modification wherein the" flaps 34 are bounded by a sealed border as'at 38,-andjoining this border at 39 is a further sealed border 40,

nism shown in-Figure 2, it being also understood that I other similar mechanisms could be employed. The arrangement described in Figures 5 and 6 will perform the same function, and other modifications could be employed without departing from the essential spirit of my invention incorporating the principle of the looped noose.

I further contemplate the rovision of the loop structurein a conventional balloon not having the channel or flap structure 34, or in other words, a balloon in which the noose will pass'aronnd the entire bottom part thereof and which will be released when the load drops.

It will now be seen that I have provided the advantages mentioned inthe objects" of my invention with furtheradvantages being readily apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of'my invention, and it is myinvention toacover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of-mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A balloon comprising a gas inflatedbag having a closed end, and an openable end, means for closing a portion of said openable end whereby the remaining portion of said openable end will provide a valve, said closing means including a flexible loop surrounding said portion to-be closed, means for pulling said loop tightly including a releasable load attached at the lowerterminal of said loop, a dissipating counter-weight co-acting with said releasable load to release said releasable load at a pre-determined interval, whereby said loop will be opened,

a pivotal arm attached to said dissipating member, the

lower terminal of said loop being attached to' said pivotal arm, an attaching member attached to said pivotal arm and to said load, a releasing member normally attached to said attaching member and to said load, whereby pivoting of said arm will cause said releasing member to releasesaidload.

2. A balloon comprising a gas inflated bag having a closed end, and an openable end, means for closing a portion of said openable end wherebyv the remaining portion of said openable end will provide a valve, said closing means including a flexible loop. surrounding said portion to be closed, means for pulling said loop tightly including a releasable load attached at thelower terminal of said loop, a weight attached at the top'of said balloon for-overturning saidballoon upon release of said load.

3. A balloon system comprising a gas inflated bag having one of its ends normally operable substantially throughout the length of said end, meansfor closing a portion of said openable end. whereby the remaining Portion of said openable end will provide a valve, said closing means including a flexible loop surrounding said portion to be closed, means for pulling said loop tightly including a releasable load attached at the lower terminal of said loop, a dissipating counterweight co-acting with said loop and, said releasableload to release said releasable load and.

said loop at a pre-determined interval.

4. =A balloon system comprising a gas inflated bag having one of its ends normally openable substantially throughout the length of said end, means for closing a portion of said openable end whereby the remaining portionofsaid openable end will provide a valve, said closing means including a flexible loop surrounding said portion to be closed, means for pulling said loop tightly including a releasable load attached at the lower terminal of said loop, a dissipating counterweight co-acting with said loop and saidireleasable load to release. said release able loadand said loop at a pre-determined' interval, including a pivotal arm attached at one end to saiddissipating counterweight, the lower terminal of said loop'being attached to theotlier end of said pivotal arm, an attaching member: attached to said pivotal-arm and to said load, a releasing member normally attached to said attaching member and to said load, pivoting of saidarm causing portion of said openable end whereby the remaining por tion of said openable end will provide a valve, a releasable load attached to said balloon, aweight attached at the top of said balloon for, over-turningsaid balloon when said releasable load is released;

:References Citedin the file of this patent Y i UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Dooge May 28, 1957' 

